CROWDS have streamed into Dublin Horse Show from early morning today (Friday) with the highlight of today's action being the Aga Khan Nations Cup. Ireland last won the prestigious trophy in 2015 and hopes are high of a very strong performance from the Irish team this afternoon.

Irish chef d'equipe Michael Blake yesterday named his team as world number four Conor Swail from Co Down who rides Count Me In, owned by Sandy Lupton and Mannon Farm; Tipperary's Max Wachman and Berlux Z, owned by Coolmore Showjumping; Cork's Shane Sweetnam who rides James Kann Cruz (ISH), owned by Gizmo Partners LLC and Meath Olympian Cian O’Connor with Kilkenny (ISH), owned by Susan Magnier. The reserve is Kilkenny's Jack Ryan with BBS McGregor (ISH), owned by Marguerite Ryan.

Along with hoping to win the Aga Khan Trophy today, Michael Blake and his team are also hoping to secure enough league points to make it through to the Longines FEI Nations Cup Final which takes place in Barcelona (ESP) at the end of September.

USA will be the first team into the RDS main arena this afternoon followed by Norway, Brazil, The Netherlands, France, Ireland and Switzerland. Five teams, (France, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland) will compete for Nations Cup points today in Dublin, while USA and Brazil will will not be eligible for points.

The Irish team is sponsored by The Underwriting Exchange with the new team kit sponsored by New York-based Charles Ancona.

Challenge

Clare native Michael Blake is looking forward to today's challenge and said: "The Aga Khan is always a very special day on the Irish sporting calendar and is extra special this year following a two-year break due to Covid. I am confident that we have a very strong team. Conor Swail is World No.4 and has been having a superb season. Max Watchman will be making his Aga Khan debut and although he is just 19, has already shown he is very talented and has an exceptional horse in Berlux Z. Shane Sweetnam and the Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz are an incredibly exciting combination and jumped a brilliant double clear in the Rotterdam Nations Cup and at Langley in Canada.

"Our anchor rider Cian O'Connor needs no introduction, he is our most capped Nations Cup rider and can always be relied upon to deliver when it matters. Our reserve rider Jack Ryan has had an excellent Nations Cup campaign this year, jumping clear rounds in three Nations Cups. To win an Aga Khan is never easy. There are several really strong teams here this year but we will be fighting to the end to hopefully lift the trophy."

RTE coverage

The Longines FEI Nations Cup of Ireland for the Aga Khan trophy starts at 3pm Irish time on Friday afternoon and is part of RTE''s Dublin Horse Show live coverage which comes on air at 1.20pm. Ruby Walsh will be joined in studio by Gerry Mullins and Kildare international show jumping rider Nicola FitzGibbon, with commentary by Pauric Lodge.

Pender does international double

Thursday at the 147th annual Dublin Horse Show saw Irish riders add to their already impressive run of results, not least by Kildare’s Mikey Pender who recorded his second international victory in the space of 24 hours.

Pender partnered the Marion Hughes-owned and bred mare HHS Fortune (ISH) to victory the Speed Derby, finishing two seconds ahead of Niamh McEvoy in second with Aconzina PS. Irish riders filled all of the top five places with Trevor Breen taking third spot with Gonzalo.

In the later Anglesea Stakes, Aga Khan team member Cian O’Connor and his World Championship mount C Vier 2 finished as runners-up after a hugely competitive 14-horse jump-off. They finished just over half a second behind Egyptian winner Nayel Nassar with Coronado who took the winners prize, while Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat finished third with Albfuehren’s Maddox.

Among the national competitions that took place in the main arena, Brendan Murphy guided Grennanstown Max A Million to top spot in the Horse Sport Ireland six-year-old class. Diarmuid Ryan and Newmarket Amy were winners of the Horse Sport Ireland four-year-old Event Horse class, while the Horse Sport Ireland five-year-old Event Horse class was won by Stephen Smith and CJO Kann Surprise.

Irish riders had got off to a strong start on opening day (Wednesday), winning all three of the international competitions on the schedule.

The feature Sport Ireland Classic saw Limerick’s Paul O’Shea and Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu take the top prize. A clear round in 66.54 seconds gave O’Shea over a second and a half to spare over French runner-up Marc Dilasser with Chamann, while third place went to another Frenchman, Julien Gonin with Valou Du Lys.

Sligo’s Richard Howley guided Fame to victory in the Minerva Stakes sponsored by Manton Grange Stables. Howley finished just over a second ahead of Britain’s William Whitaker and Jalellah OL, while Egypt’s Nayel Nassar took third place with El Conde.

Kildare’s Mikey Pender and the Irish Sport Horse HHS Fortune took the victory in the Speed Stakes. Derry’s Jordan Coyle and Picador finished as runners-up, while third place went to Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and GC Chopin’s Bushi.

The Horse Sport Ireland-sponsored six-year-old qualifier in the main arena was won by Alexandre Dos Ramos Faustino (IRL) and HHS Cyprus (ISH) with the fastest of six double clear rounds.

Congratulations

Horse Sport Ireland CEO Denis Duggan said: “The results today (Thursday) are a testament to the quality of the Irish sport horse breeding that occurs in every rural parish of Ireland. Such results follow the successful launch of the “Business of Sport Horse Breeding Report 2022” which captured the intended sentiment of the sector in the context of capital investment and the opportunities that exist for farmers who wish to diversify.

“The post pandemic era has evidenced sales of sport horses being described as buoyant and unprecedented, with demand outstripping supply. Even against the backdrop of transient inflationary costs, the Report sees breeders confident that the market will remain robust, notwithstanding production costs, strong sales figures indicate returns for the average breeder of 10 mares or less. According to the OEC/CSO live Irish equine exports have exceeded €390 million each year since 2017. Ireland Is the 4th largest exporter of live equines globally. This represents strength and stability in the Irish market. This figure does not account for domestic sales hence overall market activity is likely in excess of €400 million.”

Breeding details

Aga Khan ISH horses

Kilkenny (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Cardento (HOLST) out of MHS Pembrook Lady (ISH) by Guidam (SF), bred by Sinead Brennan, Co Kilkenny. Owner Susan Magnier. Rider Cian O’Connor.

James Kann Cruz (ISH) - 2013 gelding by Kannan out of CSF Telly Cruz by Cruising, bred by Patrick Connolly owned by Gizmo partners LLC. Ridden by Shane Sweetnam.

BBS McGregor (ISH) - 2012 gelding by Cardento (HOLST) out of Random Chance (ISH) by Mark Twain (TB) bred and owned by Marguerite Ryan ridden by Jack Ryan.

HHS Fortune

HHS Fortune (ISH) 2011 mare by Catoki (HOLST) out of Hhs Daisy (ISH) by Ard Vdl Douglas (KWPN) bred and owned by Marion Hughes and ridden by Michael James Pender.

Full coverage of the Aga Khan Nations Cup competition on www.theirishfield.ie tonight and in tomorrow's paper by Judith Faherty.